and heard of it in many instances, and marked its direful effects too-there is such a thing as spiritual quackery, as well as medical quackery; such a thing as healing the hurt slightly; imposing on the sick man; "daubing the wall with untempered mortar, and crying, Peace, Peace." That we should not be deceived in a matter of such importance as this before us, here stands the Great Physician of soul and body. "I give you," as if he had said, "a plain account of what is coming on, and plain counsel how to meet it. You must hope to get forward through time into a blessed eternity, by faith and patience, by watchfulness and prayer." And though it may be scorned by the proud and slighted by the ignorant, yet I pray God that you and I may remember this counsel of Jesus Christ, who best knows how to preach his own gospel. "This," says he, "is the method which I set before my disciples. Since they know not when their time ends, since I come suddenly like a master who has taken a far journey from home, let them watch and pray. 'What I say unto you, I say unto

all, Watch.'"

My dear hearers, I may be called in a moment to render an account of the advice which I am now giving to you; and nothing but the special hand of God prevented my being called to give account of my ministry before this day :* but, if I am spared a little longer to speak these words after my Master, let us pray that his grace may rest on us; and that both minister and people may stir up one another; and that, in the day of his coming, instead of finding us

* This sermon was preached soon after Mr. Cecil had escaped imminent danger of death, by his horse falling in frosty weather in the street.

J. P.

sleeping, our lights may be burning, our loins girded, and we ourselves like men who wait for the coming of their Lord.

SERMON XVII.

THE ANGEL'S SONG.

LUKE ii. 13, 14.

And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth Peace, good will toward men.

It is a lamentable consideration how little man is disposed to consider those special and important truths, which God has revealed to him for his benefit.

In respect to the passage before us, for instance, a philosopher reads it :-"Now," says he, "let us inquire whether this was an impression made on the minds of these shepherds, or whether it was an actual vision presented to them:" and thus he spends his time in empty speculations. A painter reads the passage: "I could very much wish," says he, "that I had been there, to have caught an idea from that scene." A musician reads it: "I should exceedingly like," says he, "to have heard this harmony, and to have examined how far it agreed with our present rules:" but since this is impossible, he sits down, turns it into music, and puts it into a song; not considering what important lessons it contains. A critical divine reads it :-"This," says he, "is a singular event; and it will lead me to consider the minis

try of angels, and whether it has totally ceased in our day or not."

Thus men trifle with the word of God! A real Chistian alone makes a proper use of such a passage. He asks his conscience, "What am I to learn from this? What instruction and encouragement does it afford?"

I shall treat it only in this way; I speak, therefore, only to such as have ears to hear to that purpose. 1. Let us consider the passage, as it lies before us in the history.

2. Let us improve it by some practical remarks. I. Consider the HISTORY before us.

The Evangelist informs us, that, on the birth of Christ, "There were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night." Business, you see, is honourable. Moses was in his employment, when the vision was manifested to him in the bush. David was in his employment, when called to a kingdom. Elisha was at the plough, when called to be a prophet. God puts honour on that employment, which is lawful and innocent.

The Evangelist informs us also, that "the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid." An angel once cut off one hundred and fortyfour thousand men, in one night: no wonder, therefore, that these shepherds were alarmed at the presence of an angel.

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not! for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people: for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the

Lord:"-a Saviour-one who can perfectly emanci pate you from the snares and power of Satan; who can deliver you from the guilt and dominion of sin, and from the fear and power of death. "To YOU is born," not to us: as if the angel had said: "We are honoured with bearing the message, but we have no interest in the truth: we are not fallen creatures. "To you is born a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Each word is truth: therefore you may give it unlimited confidence. There is almighty power, for you to rest on; able, therefore, to bear you up through time and eternity. His heart is love: he comes, therefore, to lay down his life for you. And he is Christ the Lord: "God with us:" he, whose "name" is "Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace: to you," therefore, "is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

But where is this Saviour to be found? Not in kings' courts not in the schools of science: not in the seats of merchandise: but "this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger." In a manger!What dark saying is this! "Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger! ·!" And it is as though the angel had said, "Remember that this will prove a stumbling block to the Jew, and foolishness to the Greek. This is the appointed Saviour, set forth to be "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth."

Moreover, that such an one should come lying in a manger-God as well as man-this should raise the hope of man. That God will come as a worm, become acquainted with man, that he might enter

into his sorrows-this should raise the hope of man. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude. of the heavenly host:" for, "are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister unto them who shall be heirs of salvation?" When the foundations

of the earth were laid, "the morning-stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy:" and when the earth was redeemed, it was to be expected that a multitude of angels would attend this gracious work; a multitude of angels did attend, and they sung the song most appropriate to the occasion, "Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace: good-will to men.”

To bring glory to God, is to manifest his perfections: thus, when a man prays to God, he glorifies him; for he sets forth his praise as the hearer and answerer of prayer: when a man praises God, he glorifies him; as he sets him forth as the object of adoration.

Now, in the work of redemption, there was a peculiar display of the glory or perfections of God, in that he manifests his mercy and grace: he would spare no expense to recover fallen man: he would give "his only-begotten Son," that the law might be magnified in his death. Christ manifested the justice of God: the cup could not pass from him. He manifested his wisdom that wisdom which could, at once, put the utmost indignity and punishment on sin, while it saved the sinner. His faithfulness and the exceeding riches of his grace are displayed in Christ: he hath thereby brought greater glory to himself than by the making of ten thousand worlds, which would have been mere objects of his power.

The heavenly host, therefore, sung "Glory to God